Asalaamu alaikum G-L,
Alhamdulillah wa sallalahuwasallim ala Nabiyyina Muhammad. Below is an
excerpt from "Tafsir Ibn Kathir", the classical interpretation of the
Qur'aan by one of the greatest mufassireen of the Islaamic Ummah, Imaam Ibn
Katheer (Raheemahullahu ta'aala).
It is said that after the Shaick did an extensive compilation and learning
from numerous scholars, he got ready to pen down this classic. However, he
was adviced to meet Ibn Taymiyya before doing so. When he discovered the
vast knowledge of Ibn Tayamiyya covering all branches of Islaamic
scholarship, he postponed the tafsir project and enrolled as a student of
Ibn Taymiyya and became one of his most famous students. I advice myself and
you to get a copy of this tafseer from al-Firdous Ltd., London. Tony Cisse,
don't miss this one, since you are out there in U.K.
<Seek Help in Patience and Prayer
`(Explanation of 2:153-154)
Imam Ibn Kathir
From "Tafsir Ibn Kathir", Part 2
Abridged by Shaikh Muhammad Nasib Ar-Rifa`I
© 1998 al-Firdous Ltd., London
“O you who believe! Seek help in patience and prayer. Truly! Allah is with
the patient. And say not of those who are killed in the Cause of Allah,
‘They are dead.’ Nay, they are living, but you perceive not.” [Soorah
al-Baqarah (2):153-154]
Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala proceeds by explaining patience, guidance and
seeking help in patience and prayer. The servant is either grateful for a
blessing that is bestowed on him or patient for a trial which has been
inflicted upon him. Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala has explained that the best
means that can be sought in enduring disasters are patience and prayer.
It is mentioned in the Hadith that “Whenever something happened to
the prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, he would pray” (Sahih).
There are two types of patience: The first is restraint from
committing sins and the second type is showing obedience to Allah
subhanahu wa ta`ala and making sacrifices. The latter is the most
rewarding because it is the purpose. There is a third type of patience, it
is the endurance of disasters and crises and includes seeking Allah's
subhanahu wa ta`ala forgiveness from mistakes. Ali ibn Al Husain Zin Al
`Abidin said: “When Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala gathers people from the first
generations and people from the later generations, an announcer will
announce: ‘Where are the patient
people, so that they will enter Paradise before trial?’” This is supported
by Allah’s subhanahu wa ta`ala statement “Only those
who are patient will receive their rewards in full without reckoning.”
(39:10)
Sa`id ibn Jubair said “Patience is the servant’s appreciation of Allah
subhanahu wa ta`ala for a disaster that has happened to him, considering it
as a sacrifice in anticipation of Allah’s subhanahu wa ta`ala reward in the
Hereafter, and a man may be suffering a great deal but does not show his
feelings. Instead, all you can see from him is endurance.
In the verse, “And say not of those who are killed in the Cause of
Allah, ‘They are dead.’ Nay they are living.” (2:154) Allah
subhanahu wa ta`ala informs us that those who are killed in the
Cause of Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala are in their Barzakh (period between
death and resurrection), finding their sustenance in the presence of Allah
subhanahu wa ta`ala. In Sahih Muslim, it is
mentioned that: “The souls of the martyrs live in the bodies of green
birds who have their nests in chandeliers hung from the `Arsh of
Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala. At one time their Lord took a glance at
them and said: ‘Do you want anything?’ They said: ‘What more can
we desire after You have given us that which you have not given to
any of Your Servants?’ Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala asked them the
same question again. When they realised that they would continue to
be asked, they said: ‘We wish that You (Allah) may return us to the
Earthly life so that we would be slain in Your Way another time’ –
they wanted to do that because of the reward involved in martyrdom – Allah
subhanahu wa ta`ala would say: ‘I have prescribed that to it(Earthly life)
they shall not return.’” (Sahih Muslim)
On the authority of Ka`b ibn Malik, Imam Ahmad narrated: “The
Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said: ‘Ar-Ruh (the soul) of the
believer is a bird sitting in the trees of the Paradise waiting until Allah
returns it to his body on the day He resurrects him.’” (Sahih) This also
implies all the believers, though the martyrs were specifically mentioned
and honoured in the Qur’an as a recognition
of their greatness.
May Allah bless us with these kind of patience, give us the best in this
world and raise us among the best of people in the next world. Allahumma
salli wasallim ala Nabiyyina Muhammad. Wasalaam.
modou mbye
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